Close X
Sunday, November 24, 2024
ADVT 
National

Surrey, B.C., mayor accuses public safety minister of bullying, misogyny

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 19 Jun, 2023 04:03 PM
  • Surrey, B.C., mayor accuses public safety minister of bullying, misogyny

The debate over policing in Surrey, B.C., got personal Monday when Mayor Brenda Locke accused Solicitor General Mike Farnworth of bullying and misogyny, after he suggested the city had been playing games with its handling of the matter.

Locke said Farnworth has been "a bully all the way through" the city council process that ultimately determined it would revert to the RCMP, well into the transition to an independent municipal force.

"I have worked in politics for a long time. I have worked in the liquor industry for a long time. I have never, ever, used the gender card," Locke said. "But in this case, I absolutely think there is misogyny going on, no doubt in my mind."

A representative of Farnworth's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Locke's claims.

Her remarks came after Farnworth issued a statement saying he became concerned last Wednesday after learning that a report on the future of policing in Surrey had not been shared with the province but would be put to a vote by council.

The minister said he asked Locke to share the report and delay the vote, but it went ahead before he had a chance to determine if the plan would ensure safe policing.

"It is critical that I receive this report. Now is not the time to play games. The safety of people in Surrey is too important," said his statement issued Monday morning.

Locke said it was "fearmongering" to suggest there were public safety issues in the city.

She had campaigned last fall on a promise to bring the RCMP back to Surrey after her predecessor, Doug McCallum, initiated the transition to a municipal force.

The B.C. government recommended in April that the city continue with its transition to the independent Surrey Police Service and offered $150 million in funding to help.

At the same time, Farnworth set out guidelines for city council to keep the RCMP.

"The City of Surrey gets to choose their police force, but my responsibility is the second part of that process, which is to ensure the safe and effective policing in the city of Surrey and the province and the requirements that I laid out a number of weeks ago are met," the minister told a news conference on Friday.

That's after Locke announced that council had voted to revert to the Mounties, saying it would be far less costly than continuing with the independent force.

Farnworth gave the city a deadline of 1 p.m. Monday to share its report, saying he'd otherwise be forced to make a determination about effective policing without it.

Locke said the report wasn't shared earlier because it hadn't yet been agreed upon by council and as of Monday morning the city hadn't received signed non-disclosure agreements from those with the province who want to review the document.

She said Farnworth's deadline left the city with one business day to send the report from the time council voted last Thursday.

"One day, and he expects us to have everything ready and a report to him by noon, and he's saying we're playing games?"

Locke said there is no plan in place for the city to continue its transition to a municipal force because that's not the decision council was making.

"The solicitor general, in the report that he gave us … said there were two options for the City of Surrey. We just didn't choose the one he preferred."

MORE National ARTICLES

B.C. becomes first province to provide universal coverage for opioid treatments

B.C. becomes first province to provide universal coverage for opioid treatments
A statement from the Health Ministry says B-C will now provide universal coverage for eligible drugs -- which include methadone -- that are rated as opioid agonist treatment medications.

B.C. becomes first province to provide universal coverage for opioid treatments

B.C. border agents find 6,300 kg of meth, including largest single seizure to date

B.C. border agents find 6,300 kg of meth, including largest single seizure to date
In December of last year, agents in Burnaby found 40 jugs containing just over 200 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, and a month later 180 containers with 2,900 kilograms of liquid methamphetamine were seized coming through the container examination facility in Delta. 

B.C. border agents find 6,300 kg of meth, including largest single seizure to date

Deportations for international students caught in fraud scheme put on hold

Deportations for international students caught in fraud scheme put on hold
Hundreds of students might have been affected by the scheme, which saw immigration agents issue fake acceptance letters to get international students into Canada. Some students had no idea their documents were forged until it came time for them apply for permanent residency.  

Deportations for international students caught in fraud scheme put on hold

Chilliwack hosts vegan festival

Chilliwack hosts vegan festival
Normally known for its dairy and animal agriculture products, Chilliwack is hosting its first ever vegan food festival. The festival is hosted by local grocery store The Veganist for its one-year anniversary since opening, and co-founder Logan Bryan says vegan products have been welcomed by the majority of the community.

Chilliwack hosts vegan festival

Canada will continue to rely on foreign firefighters as wildfires increase: Trudeau

Canada will continue to rely on foreign firefighters as wildfires increase: Trudeau
Trudeau said extreme weather events are expected to become more frequent in the coming years due to climate change. When asked if Canada needs to augment its fleet water bombers that are used to fight fires, he said it's clear the country will need to increase resources at many levels.

Canada will continue to rely on foreign firefighters as wildfires increase: Trudeau

B.C. school district bans man who queried gender of girl, 9, at track meet

B.C. school district bans man who queried gender of girl, 9, at track meet
Kevin Kaardal, the superintendent of Central Okanagan Public Schools in Kelowna, B.C., says in a statement that staff at the regional track and field meet last week intervened and eventually moved the girl's event across the field.

B.C. school district bans man who queried gender of girl, 9, at track meet